In a surprise move, US President Donald Trump has announced that he’s received a letter from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, agreeing to come to the negotiating table to work towards a peace deal in Ukraine.
This comes after a tense meeting between the two leaders in the Oval Office last week.
A Change of Heart?
Trump revealed the news during a joint session of Congress in Washington, saying “I appreciate that he sent this letter.”
The letter apparently states that Ukraine is ready to start negotiations as soon as possible to bring about a lasting peace.
Zelensky also expressed his willingness to work under Trump’s “strong leadership” to achieve this goal. This is a significant shift in tone, especially after their fiery meeting last week.
What’s in the Letter?
According to Trump, the letter reads: “Ukraine is ready to come to the negotiating table as soon as possible to bring lasting peace closer.
Nobody wants peace more than the Ukrainians.” Zelensky also reportedly stated that his team is ready to work with Trump to get a peace that lasts.
Additionally, Trump claimed that Zelensky is ready to sign a rare earth minerals deal with the US.
Russia Also On Board?
Trump also mentioned that there have been “serious discussions” with Russia, and that they’ve received “strong signals” that Russia is ready for peace.
However, he didn’t provide any details on when these talks took place or whether he was personally involved.
A Path to Peace?
The US president emphasized that it’s time to end the “senseless war” in Ukraine, saying “if you want to end wars, you have to talk to both sides.”
This is a significant development, especially after the tensions between the US and Ukraine in recent weeks. With both sides seemingly willing to negotiate, could we be seeing a glimmer of hope for peace in Ukraine?
What Happened Before
To recap, the Oval Office meeting between Zelensky and US officials last week ended in a clash, with Trump accusing Zelensky of “gambling with World War Three”.
The Ukrainian delegation left without signing a deal that would grant the US access to rare earth minerals in Ukraine. Trump had told Zelensky to “come back when you’re ready for peace”.
It seems that Zelensky has taken Trump’s words to heart and is now willing to negotiate.